Take to the High Seas with the impressive Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced that improves the graphics of the original release and streamlines the gameplay for fans new and old.
I did not play the original release much, as while I enjoy the series, a stealth approach is not my usual way of playing, and the incredibly expansive open worlds of the games become overwhelming at times in terms of missions, resources, and pathfinding. As such, I would often have another staff member do the majority of the reviews for the series.
This has changed in recent years as I have made a point of getting deeper into the games and giving myself time to explore the missions and experiment with combat styles and such.
The new game removes pass/fail elements, DLC, and online options to give a more focused game that does not compromise the story. Players play as Edward, a pirate who, after being washed ashore, assumes the identity of another and soon finds himself with his own ship and crew.
Edward learns of a larger objective but spends his time pirating on the seas, upgrading his ship, making allies, and performing various missions such as Assination for pay in order to gain more funds for necessary things such as upgrades and ammunition.
The map is incredibly vast, and there are numerous locales such as Havana, Nassau, and other areas to explore. The map shows options for side missions as well as the main missions, and players can opt to roam and pirate the seas in order to gain resources for trade in ports.
This activity comes with a price, and while paying off your wanted status in ports works, the joy of trying to evade numerous ships while sailing to a desired port makes things interesting, to say the least.
Naturally, stealth and tactics play a large part in the game, and for me, the ability to climb and leap on enemies was key. Being able to stay hidden also has some very serious benefits, as the joy of sneaking up on a target and dispatching them without prolonged sword or gunplay is key.
I found myself fond of dropping smoke bombs in situations where multiple enemies converged on me so I could dispatch them quickly when they could not locate me.
Looting is naturally part of it, and players who opt to pick a pocket will need to make sure that they are not seen. Players may also hire bodyguards in ports to help them get through various encounters.
There are puzzles to solve along the main quest, as the game is not all about blades, guns, and cannons, despite this being an essential part of the game.
While I am still working to complete aspects of the game, I have had an incredibly good time with the game, as aside from the graphics and sound, the overall experience is incredibly addictive, especially when sailing my ship through weather and the various ports.
If you are a fan of the series, you will not want to miss what for me, has been an incredibly enjoyable adventure.
4.5 stars out of 5
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